California Lutheran University vs. Cal Poly

Should I go to California Lutheran University or California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if California Lutheran University or Cal Poly is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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California Lutheran University vs. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo comparison
California Lutheran University California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo College 3 College 4
California Lutheran University California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
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Overview

 California Lutheran University Cal Poly
Location Thousand Oaks, CA San Luis Obispo, CA
Setting Midsize City Small Suburban
Enrollment 3,615 22,000
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #347 #155
Religious Affiliation Evangelical Lutheran Church - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website callutheran.edu calpoly.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 California Lutheran University Cal Poly
Tuition (In State) $47,500 $5,742
Tuition (Out of State) $47,500 $17,622
Room & Board $15,490 $16,449
Avg Net Price $30,416 $19,184
Avg Grant Aid $30,597 $10,065
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 42%

Admission

 California Lutheran University Cal Poly
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,150 58,774
Admitted 4,490 17,885
Acceptance Rate 87.2% 30.4%
Enrolled % 13.4% 28.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.73 4.0
Typical High School Grades A- A/A+
Admissions Standards Difficult Very High
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 26/30 26/32
SAT Range 1150/1320 1220/1410
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jan 1, 2025 Nov 30, 2024

Academics

 California Lutheran University Cal Poly
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 20:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Communication (13%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Engineering (24%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Agriculture (15%)
  • Architecture (8%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)

Outcomes

 California Lutheran University Cal Poly
Graduation Rate 64% 75%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $57,900 $69,400
Making Student Loan Payments 70% 85%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,000 $18,666
Median Loan Payment $237 $193

Diversity

 California Lutheran University Cal Poly
% Men 43% 51%
% Women 57% 49%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 49% 57%
% Black 4% 1%
% Hispanic 27% 16%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 7%
% International 4% 2%
% Unknown Race 4% 5%

Students

 California Lutheran University Cal Poly
% In-State 80% 83%
% Out-of-State 17% 16%

Campus

 California Lutheran University Cal Poly
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is larger than than California Lutheran University based on total student enrollment (22,000 students vs. 3,615 students)

California Lutheran University vs. Cal Poly Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, California Lutheran University or Cal Poly?

  • California Lutheran University is 727.2% more expensive to attend than Cal Poly for in-state tuition ($47,500.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 169.5% higher at California Lutheran University than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($47,500.00 vs. $17,622.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo than California Lutheran University ($19,184 vs. $30,416)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Lutheran University are 6.2% lower than costs at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($15,490 vs. $16,449)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at California Lutheran University than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (99% vs. 42%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California Lutheran University students is 204% larger than aid received California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($30,597 vs. $10,065)

California Lutheran University vs. Cal Poly Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, California Lutheran University or Cal Poly? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Cal Poly or California Lutheran University .

  • The average SAT score at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (1259) is 150 points higher than at California Lutheran University (1109)
  • Incoming Cal Poly students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at California Lutheran University (25)
  • Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at California Lutheran University (3.73)
  • California Lutheran University has a higher acceptance rate (87.2%) than Cal Poly (30.4%)

California Lutheran University vs. Cal Poly Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, California Lutheran University or Cal Poly? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Cal Poly and California Lutheran University.

  • The graduation rate at Cal Poly is higher than California Lutheran University (75% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn on average $11,500 more per year than California Lutheran University graduates after ten years. ($69,400 vs. $57,900)
  • California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students graduate with a $4,334 lower median federal student loan debt than California Lutheran University graduates. ($18,666 vs. $23,000)
  • Cal Poly graduates are paying $44 less per month on federal student loans than California Lutheran University graduates. ($193 vs. $237)
  • More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California Lutheran University students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 70%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/